Acute aortic occlusion in a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia treated by thrombectomy

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS) is an infrequent complication of heparin anticoagulation.

We present the case of a 44-year-old male who was admitted with acute ischaemia of his right lower limb. He was initially treated with unfractionated heparin and thrombolysis, but subsequently developed acute aortic thrombosis 8 days following initiation of heparin therapy. This was treated with bilateral per-femoral thrombectomy with curative result.

This case report draws the attention of surgeons to the difficulties in diagnosing HITS and highlights the multidisciplinary management of a complicated case of acute ischaemia.